Device for use when sweeping smoke tubes, boilers and the like



July 31, 1962 P. BoNNEvlE-svENDsEN 3,046,589

DEVICE FOR USE WHEN SWEEPING SMOKE v TUBES, BOILERS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 27, 1961 ATTORNEY United States Patent Ciliice 3,046,589 Patented July 31, 1962 DEVICE FOR USE WHEN SWEEPING SMOKE TUBES, BOILERS AND THE LIKE Per Bonnevie-Svendsen, Eiksveen 61,

Roa, Oslo, Norway Filed Feb. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 91,871

Claims priority, application Norway Mar. 1, 1960 1 Claim. (Cl. 15-162) The present invention relates to a device for the sweeping of smoke tubes, boilers and the like.

For the sweeping of smoke tubes, boilers and the like a screw-formed brush is preferably used, the bristles of which consist of steel lamellae, and for good cleaning of the smoke tube the diameter of the brush is greater than that of the smoke tube. Due to this fact the steel lamellae are pressed backwards, i.e. in a direction opposite to that of the direction of movement when the brush is introduced into the smoke tube, and when the brush is withdrawn the steel lamellae are bent in the opposite direction and push the soot in front of the lamellae as the brush is withdrawn from the smoke tube. When the brush is released, i.e. when it comes out from the smoke tube, the steel lamellae suddenly straighten out, whereby the soot carried along with the brush is whirled outwards into the room, which is of course very unpleasant. Y

A further drawback in the sweeping of smoke tubes and the like is that the rod or chain used for pushing the brush into the smoke tube and withdrawing the brush therefrom is highly choked with soot. This especially constitutes a drawback if a guiding rod is used of the type which consists of a chain that can be bent or curved in one direction only aud which is coiled upon a drum or the like, said drum being driven by engine force. Said chain may become so choked with soot that the machine equipment becomes clogged, and the chain must be cleaned `in order that its operation may continue.

The object of the present invention therefore is to eliminate these drawbacks in the sweeping of smoke tubes, boilers and the like.

According to the invention this is achieved by placing the brush,` which is preferably of the above-mentioned type, inside a housing, the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the brush and thus also greater than the diameter of the smoke tube, said housing by means of a transition member carrying a connecting tube member adapted to be inserted in the smoke tube. At its other end the housing is provided with an opening or another smaller tube, through which the guiding rod or chain of the brush is introduced.

In this manner the brush is completely enclosed within a housing, which collects the soot drawn out from the smoke tube, said housing preferably being provided with a tubing for connection with a vacuum tube, which by way of example may be connected with a vacuum cleaner so that said housing is continuously freed from soot and maintained under vacuum, and the chain passing through the housing is subjected to the action of the vacuum source.

In order that the invention may be easily understood it is below explained with reference to the drawing, which shows a section through an embodiment of the invention.

The screw-formed brush 4 is situated within a housing 3, the diameter and length of which are greater than the diameter and length of the brush. The brush is provided with a central rod 5, which extends out through a channel or tube 6, and said central rod 5 may be provided with a ring or the like 7, connecting the rod 5 with a chain or a exible guide rod.

Through a transition member 2 the housing 3 carries a tubing 1, the diameter of which is less than that of the smoke tube, so that said tubing 1 may be inserted in the smoke tube with a rather close tting therein.

Since said tubing 1 must be different for smoke tubes of different diameters, the tubing with its transient member 2 is pressed over the housing 3, as shown at 8, and thus is exchangeable.

The housing 3` may further be provided with a tube 9 for connection to a vacuum-tube, which by way of example extends to a vacuum cleaner.

When the brush 4 is driven towards the smoke tube, the lamellae of the brush are by means of the member 2 bent backwards, whereby the brush is more easily pressed into the tubing 1 and thus into the smoke tube. When the brush is again withdrawn from the smoke tube the lamellae are directed in the opposite direction, and at the moment when the brush leaves the smoke tube or tubing 1 and enters the housing 3 the lamellae straighten out and throw the soot backwards and the soot is drawn out through the tube 9. During this part of the operation the entire length of the chain passes the housing 3 and is continuously cleaned of soot by the vacuum acting through the tube 9.

In this manner an arrangement has been provided in which the chain is always kept free from soot, and soot removed from the smoke tube is continuously passed into the vacuum cleaner, so that no soot enters the space outside the apparatus and the operator gets a clean work.

I claim:

A device for sweeping smoke tubes, boilers, and the like, comprising a brush composed of steel lamella bristles and having a helical screw configuration, the ydiameter of said brush exceeding the diameter of the smoke tube being swept, a cylindrical housing open at one end and having a diameter greaterY than the diameter of said brush, a removable funnel-shaped member References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 615,249 Cathriner Dec. 6, 1898 683,358 Tucker. Sept. 24, 1901 FOREIGN PATENTS 392,892 France Oct. 9, 1908 576,468 Germany May 12, 1933 

